Course-Trilogy "Metamorphose"

The transformational course-trilogy «Metamorphose» is one of those rare cases when the means and tools of acting and theatrical art transform the reality of each participant, audience and social community as a whole. The course is primarily aimed at actors and performers who wish no longer to be identified with the specific «type of actor» or role/image associated with them by acting agencies, casting companies, producers, and directors.

Participants’ focused work in this course will free them from the power of this «parasitic image», open the way to new roles, and unexplored artistic experiences. Any public person who is tired of the distorted perception of himself in society, among colleagues, or even close friends, and wants to regain his authenticity, wants to be seen in his true, not «converted» face, will also find a solution by joining the work of this excellent program. Even a not very public person, who is sometimes surprised by the inadequacy of the perception of his actions or words by friends or strangers, will find the real reason for these misunderstandings, which will be eliminated in this course.

The program of the course consists of three consecutive parts:

1. «Carnival» Revealing in a metaphor a dramatic event of one's life; transformation of a «behavioral parasite» into an Imagery work of art; the play with «parasite»; the «Carnival» buffoonery, as a celebration of «parasites»; subjugation of the «behavioral parasite», liberation from its power.

2. «Renaissance» Finding personal artefacts of strength, dignity, authenticity; developing skills for working with artefacts to acquire an external and internal state of recovery; theatrical art-house.

3. «Transformation» Dramatic performance of acceptance of heavenly treasures hidden from human perception in «behavioural parasite»; a precedent for the manifestation of human dignity in relation to the challenges of fate.

Detailed description of the course:

During the first part, «Carnival», participants become familiar with their less-controlled behavioural social interface. Mostly, this image is, in essence, an artificial, substitute «personality» of a Person’s self. This is a characteristic, a typical image, a social role, a mask that creates a reputation in society and personal relationships with other people. This is a Character familiar to everyone in our surroundings, but not so much to ourselves.

We call this Image (Character) - a «behavioural parasite», or simply a «parasite» - not because it is bad, but because it parasites on the Person’s means of expression and our vital energy without one’s conscious will, participation. During the first part, we study the movements, sound, intonation and voice of this «parasite image», its morals and values. Participants discovering it for themselves, get to know it, with the video recordings' support and the supervision of their colleagues.

The history of appearance and domination of one’s «parasites» in their behaviour is traced and described by the participants through the performance of specific tasks. In this way, they practically investigate its origin, its world and its order, write its dramatic history. This is how a dramaturgical essay, which we call «Fairytale», is composed.

Next, we theatricalise it: grotesquely exaggerate some things, caricature it and bring it to the final show of the first part of the trilogy - the buffoonery «Carnival». The finale of the first part is actually the Carnival of «behavioural parasites». The «parasites» are dressed, decorated and played by the participants in the performance, which ends with the specific «magical» act of liberation from the power of the «behavioural parasite» over them.

The second part of the course, «Renaissance», reveals to each participant their artefacts of strength and victorious nature. Participants carefully collect artefacts of vitality and their authenticity from their own «experience of happiness», experience of victories, experience of creative solutions to the most challenging life tasks/situations. This is a diary of wonderful moments of their life, their creative life dramaturgy. It is a spy tracking of the unknown self, in some cases through pain, in others, through previously unknown, incredible sensations. This is walking into the «unknown forest», for our unknowable mystery. In the «Renaissance» part of their «Fairytale», the participants prophesy and assert themselves in the victory of life over death.

Then, under the supervision of the course leader, the participants, as actors, as protagonists, work with their most precious artefacts. At this stage, in the actions related to the artefacts, we use the compositional methods of the School of Imagery, dramaturgical work in the group, activating participants’ creative dramaturgical laboratory. Compositional work with artefacts, involving colleagues from the project, will help to improvise and reveal one's artistic manifestations, including plasticity, facial expressions, voice, states of confidence and peace, and creative activity. The result of this work is finding and realising one's own Personal Authenticity.

We transform magical interactions and achievements in our work with personal artefacts into a «ritual», and with this, we reach the final stage of the «Renaissance» - a genuine theatrical art-house performance. This is where our today's «Image of Strength» and Dignity is established. Realisation of today's self-image as a mature, adult personality is the result achieved by the participants upon completion of the second part of the course.

The third part of the course - «Transformation» - finding, discovering and accepting a whole self, a different self; creation of the «Dramatic Image» of each participant, which consists of two previously found and mastered «states»: «behavioural parasite» and «Image of Strength». Thorough, very delicate and professional acting work, using the author's methods of the School of Imagery. Creative tasks are worked out under the guidance of the course leader, which helps the participant gain experience in building and maintaining a real artistic, dramatic acting image.

When the creative tasks are accepted and the way of building the «Dramatic Image» is mastered, the acceptance of the «behavioural parasite» in the state of maturity and awareness of one's strength takes place. New, God-given opportunities are opened to the participants. The metamorphosis of the Personality takes place. Love conquers fear. The parasite is «deciphered», ceases to be a burden, acquires a new quality, perfection, and becomes spiritual. The Heavenly Gift is finally accepted, the renaissance of the spirit makes it possible to use previously rejected possibilities, the rejection of which contributed to the emergence of the parasitic stereotypes of behaviour. Practical experience and awareness of the new quality of internal and external interaction with oneself and the world allow one to transform one’s own life and fill it with new meaning.

The transformation of the «behavioural parasite» by the power of love to life relieves dependence on a converted, artificial reputation. Gives new emotional and artistic assets, playing opportunities that were impossible without a sense of self-worth, faith, hope, and love. Building a «Dramatic Image» gives the first experience and opens the way to absolute mastery of the acting profession. It allows professional actors to expand their range beyond boundaries that previously seemed unattainable (impossible). The dramatic performance "Transformation" can become a real acting «business card» of the course participants - professional actors, and the first acquaintance with the art of Imagery behaviour for people whose lives are far from the stage.

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Your Instructor

A practical researcher and creator of the unique education system for actors. The author of the "Versions Theatre" method and the corresponding educational program. Creator of many applied trainings for education, business, art, and life in general. Methodist and acting teacher.